Free COVID-19 Community Testing Event in Stafford County on July 7, 2020

July 2, 2020

Media Contact: Allison Balmes-John, Allison.Balmes@vdh.virginia.gov, 540-226-1461

Free COVID-19 Community Testing Event in Stafford County on July 7, 2020

(Fredericksburg, Va.) – In partnership with the Stafford County Fire and Rescue, the Virginia National Guard, and Mary Washington Healthcare, the Rappahannock Area Health District is holding a community testing event on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 to test community members for COVID-19. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot located near the intersection of Hospital Center Blvd and Courthouse Road in Stafford County. Signage will be available to direct participants to the testing drive-thru location. There will be 400 tests available at this event.

“We are pleased to provide this opportunity for no-cost testing in Stafford County,” said Interim District Health Director Dr. Don Stern. “COVID-19 is endemic to our community. Part of learning to live with this virus includes high rates of testing among community members, which in turn allows us to initiate case investigation and contact tracing to slow the spread of the disease.”

Testing is available at no cost to participants, and no prescription or health insurance information is required. Individuals must be over the age of 16 to receive a test. Participants do not have to have symptoms to be tested for COVID-19 at this event. The test administered will be the nasal swab that diagnoses active cases of the virus. Antibody testing will not be available at this event.

This will be a drive-thru testing event. Individuals seeking testing should be seated near a window of the vehicle. All in attendance are asked to wear a cloth face covering.

The Rappahannock Area Health District will only be providing testing during the event and not medical care or treatment. For those with medical emergencies or severe symptoms, do not wait for this event and please seek medical attention by calling 911.

Community members seeking testing can register in advance by completing the form available at https://j.mp/2VzM57v. Day-of registrations will also be accepted.

For more information on COVID-19 in Virginia, please visit http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus.

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MEDIA NOTE: Limited news media access to the test site is available ONLY by advance request and appointment by contacting Allison Balmes-John (allison.balmes@vdh.virginia.gov). Access will be escorted, for the purposes of limited photography and videography from a distance. These measures are necessary to ensure patient privacy and operational security. News Release 109 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219 ● www.vdh.virginia.gov